With two days you can see Ooty's main sights without rushing, then spend a second day on one of the two great drives out of town: down to Coonoor for viewpoints and tea estates, or west along the Pykara road for pine forest, open grassland and waterfalls.
Day 1: Ooty town highlights
Follow our one-day Ooty itinerary:
- Doddabetta Peak early in the morning, for the clearest views.
- Tea factory and museum on the way down.
- Government Botanical Garden and the Rose Garden in the late morning.
- Ooty Lake for an afternoon boat ride.
If you prefer a slower pace, our Ooty Heritage & Garden Tour focuses on the gardens and the lake.
Day 2, option A: Coonoor
Coonoor is about 20 km from Ooty, lower and quieter, and surrounded by tea estates. Our Coonoor Sightseeing half-day tour covers:
- Sim's Park, a botanical park established in 1874.
- Lamb's Rock, a viewpoint looking down over the plains.
- Dolphin's Nose, a dramatic rock viewpoint facing Catherine Falls.
- Tea estate views along the way.
Coonoor works well as a half day, so you can spend the rest of the day shopping in Ooty, or add the tea estate experience.
Day 2, option B: the Pykara road
Head west towards Pykara for a full day of open landscapes. This is our Pykara & Mudumalai Tour:
- Pine Forest, a short walk among tall pines above the Kamaraj Sagar reservoir.
- Shooting Point, the rolling grasslands where many films have been shot.
- Pykara Lake for boating, and Pykara Falls, which are at their fullest after the monsoon.
- Continue towards Mudumalai for a chance to see wildlife along the forest roads.
Which day-two option should you choose?
- Choose Coonoor if you love viewpoints and tea country, or want a shorter, gentler day.
- Choose Pykara if you prefer lakes, waterfalls, wide open spaces and a chance of wildlife.
- Travelling with young children or older parents? Coonoor involves less time in the car.
Plan it with a local driver
Both routes involve narrow hill roads, so a local driver makes the day far easier. Book an Ooty cab with Garuda Travels and we'll fit the plan to your group. You can also browse all our Ooty tour packages or check the best time to visit Ooty.